From George Washington to John Laurance, 2 December 1779
To John Laurance
Head Quarters Morris Town Decemr 2d 1779
Sir
As it will be necessary to proceed as soon as possible in the trial of Genl Arnold1 and afterwards to those of Col. Hooper Deputy Qr Master Genl2—and Doctor Shippen, which have been directed by Congress—I am to request that you will join the Army as soon as you can. I want you immediately to examine the Papers in the case of the last—and to form the charges that he may be arrested.3 I am Sir With great regard & esteem Yr Most Obet servant
Go: Washington
LS, in Richard Kidder Meade’s writing, NHi: John Laurance Papers; Df, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. For preparations to reconvene Maj. Gen. Benedict Arnold’s courtmartial, see GW to Joseph Reed, 4 Dec., and the notes to that document.
2. Efforts to court-martial Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr., never came to fruition before he left the quartermaster’s department in late spring 1780 (see Remarks for the Continental Congress Committee of Conference, 23–31 Jan. 1779, n.13, and GW to Nathanael Greene, 1 Aug., and n.1 to that document; see also 13:106–7).
3. Laurance’s reply to GW on 15 Dec. has not been found (see GW to John Morgan, 17 Dec., and Morgan to GW, 27 Dec.).
For the eventual arrest and court-martial of William Shippen, Jr., on charges of improper conduct as medical director, see Samuel Huntington to GW, 27 Nov., and n.1 to that document.